Re: adding batteries together?

If you connect two identical batteries in series, the so called Cold Cranking Amps (CCA) remains the SAME it does NOT double, although the voltage doubles, i.e. two sixes in series now = 12 volts. If each were 1000 CCA, two in series still equals only 1000 CCA...........

If you connect two identical batteries in parallel, the voltage remains the same yet the available amperage does double in that case.

In BOTH theories above, still all remains subject to internal resistances and ohms law, of course.

I know what your saying about the CCA not actually increasing when the batteries are wired in series, but it does when they are in parallel. So, another question here. By doubling the voltage of the item being powered (ie-24 volts -vs- 12 volts) I know your basically reducing the amperage needed by 1/2. So, in effect, wouldn't two 12 volt batteries in series, with 1000 CCA each, actually have twice as much starting potential at 24 volts, as one 1000 CCA battery would on a similar 12 volt system....even though the total CCA available (ie still 1000 -vs- 2000) didn't ?

Lets consider 12 volt batterys, each have identical ratings of 1000 CCA. In addition for this example we will not consider, resistance of cables or length of cranking time.

Definition: Cold Cranking (CCA) rating is the discharge load in amperes which a new fully charged battery at 0 degrees F can deliver for 30 seconds and maintain a minimum voltage of 7.2 volts for a 12 volt battery or 3.6 volts for a 6 volt battery.

When a battery is loaded the voltage drops. The CCA rating is a measure of the voltage the battery can maintain at a load of 1000 ampere - it does not indicate that the battery will deliver 1000 amperes to the starter. Your starter is a known resistance therefore the current delivered to the starter will increase in proportion to voltage: I = V/R.

Electrical power: Is called Watts and defined as Volts x Amperes = Watts. For this example we will call this "Starting Potential".

From the above we can see the battery or battery combination that can maintain the highest voltage during cranking will deliver the most power to the starter and have the highest starting potential.

In order of power delivery:

1) Two 12 volt batterys in series (1000 CCA and 24 volts). Since the battery voltage is higher starter current/power will increase, typically not double. 2) Two 12 volt batterys in parallel (2000 CCA and 12 volts). Since the batterys share the starter current they see less load and will maintain a higher voltage during cranking. 3) One 12 volt battery (1000 CCA and 12 volts). Since the battery sees the full starter load the voltage will be pulled down to a greater extent.

In summary - as compared to one 12 battery:

With two 12 volt batterys wired in series, starting power increases due to the higher battery voltage. With two 12 voltage batterys wired in parallel starting power increases again because of higher voltage but in this case due to less loading.

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